Nairobi News

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s communication team has goofed a big one after they sent a story stating that he had disbanded the National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).

A release sent to newsrooms by the Presidential Strategic Communication (PSCU) said that President Kenyatta  had disbanded Nacada and directed the Members of Parliament to lead the war against illicit brews in their  constituencies in Central Kenya.

Thirty-seven minutes later, PSCU sent a statement saying: “This is to inform all editors that the Nacada board has not been disbanded as earlier indicated in our previous PSCU story. We apologize for that.”

So what happened? Those who have seen the footage say the President said: “Nacada board, hiyo imepotea.”

This is one of many goofs from PSCU, which has often come under sharp criticism for misrepresenting the head of state.

YUMBIS INCIDENT

In May, President Kenyatta’s social media team was involved in a toe-curling incident when they tweeted what appeared to be the head of state’s condolence message to policemen killed in Yumbis Al Shabaab, moments before Interior Ministry refuted claims of deaths.

The tweet from PSCU official handle, which has since been deleted, read: “I mourn and pray with the family and friends of the police officers who lost their lives in Yumbis. They died protecting us. I salute them.”

But Alinoor (B) Moulid‏ (@AlinoorMB) had already taken a screenshot of the contradictory tweet by PSCU, tweeting: “While Interior Ministry refutes claims of casualties in #Yumbis attack, the presidency is sending condolences! #Kenya.”

PSCU later retweeted a tweet by @StatehouseKenya that posted an update from Interior Secretary Maj-Gen (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery, which said: “No one killed in Yumbis – We pray for quick recovery for the injured officer.”